Introduction

Textiles 1 focuses on the development of students’ professional knowledge in textiles through their own creative work. The study programme consists of the courses Thread Techniques, Designing and Sewing Clothes, Redesign, and Artistic Expressions.

Target Group and Admission Requirements

Textiles 1 may form part of a self-composed Bachelor’s study programme and will build on general admission requirements or prior experiential learning.

Who is the study programme aimed at?

• Students may take the one-year study programme (60 ECTS) or the individual courses separately (15 ECTS each). The study programme and its courses offer continuing education for teachers of arts and crafts in primary and lower secondary schools.
• The study programme is also suitable for students who wish to teach at folk high schools, music and art schools or similar.
• Students who wish to take a multidisciplinary Bachelor’s degree.
• Students who wish to pursue an education in the field of textiles, art and design.

Aim of the Programme

Through their own creative work in textile materials, the student will develop basic knowledge in textiles in the study programme’s courses: Thread Techniques, Designing and Sewing Clothes, Redesign and Artistic Expressions. Students will develop an awareness of the subject’s potential and values, in which humankind, learning, culture and the environment are central.

Learning outcome

After successfully completing the study programme, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate has:

• Basic knowledge of the properties of textiles, various types of production and applications
• Knowledge of creative work using textile materials
• Acquired knowledge of creative aesthetic processes (idea development, exploration, creativity, innovation and production)

Skills

The candidate has acquired:

• Basic technical craft skills in selected techniques and materials
• Skills in explorative activities and developing products through their own creative processes

General competence

The candidate:

• Has basic knowledge of aesthetic qualities and tools
• Can implement a creative process from idea to finished product
• Can view their own textile expressions in a cultural-historical context
• Has developed knowledge about learning: self-learning, learning together and teaching others to learn
• Has knowledge of various forms of documentation and dissemination

Curriculum and structure

The study programme consists of 4 courses (15 ECTS each)

• Thread Techniques
• Designing and Sewing Clothes
• Redesign
• Artistic Expressions

The courses cover a wide range of topics within textiles. Each course may be taken as an independent course, but together they constitute a one-year study programme. The teaching in the study programme builds on the principle of theory integrated in practice. The student’s own creative work with textile design constitutes the main focus of the study programme, and will be related to the following elements:

- Practical creative work

• Materials
• Crafts and technique
• Product development

- Aesthetics, culture and history

• Aesthetics
• Cultural-historical perspectives, tradition and contemporary aspects
• Sustainability, society and environment

- Exploration and learning

• Product and knowledge development
• Learning about learning
• Subject didactics (dependent on which line of study the student takes)
• The student’s own development (dependent on which line of study the student takes)

- Dissemination

• Documentation
• Presentation
• Reflection

Internationalization

The study programme is open to international students, and designed for continuing education studies in relation to the individual courses (15 ECTS).

Teaching and Learning Methods

Students will work independently and under the guidance of the teacher in workshops. Through guidance in the workshop sessions, theory and reflection will be related to the student’s own creative work. The academic year comprises 1,600 working hours, including approximately 300 hours of lectures, tutorials and seminars (further clarification is given in the course descriptions and semester plans). The study programme emphasises creative work in textiles. It includes the following varied teaching methods:

• Demonstrations
• Practical exercises
• Skills training
• Lectures
• Group work
• Dialogue with teachers and other students
• Various types of documentation and dissemination, which may include oral presentations, exhibitions, posters and reports

The study programme builds on the principle of theory integrated in practice. Emphasis will be given to professional reflection in relation to artistic processes involving visual and concrete materials.

Attendance requirements

Guidelines for obligatory attendance in studies at the Faculty of Art, Folk Culture and Teacher Education will be valid for parts of the study programme. The student is responsible for documenting attendance in the obligatory parts of the study programme, and keeping himself/herself informed with regard to whether he/she is in danger of falling below the minimum attendance requirement. Failure to meet this requirement may result in the student not being allowed to continue on the study programme or to sit the examination. This is considered in connection with a student’s rights and responsibilities as described in Telemark University College’s examination regulations and the Norwegian Universities Act § 40 and § 46.3.

Student participation/academic affairs committee

Each class has a student representative and a deputy. These representatives participate in the faculty’s democratic processes. The class also has its own academic affairs committee which consists of 2-3 students who function as a link between the teaching team and the class. When appropriate, the committee may participate in team meetings in order to discuss matters in connection with planning and the class’s activities. The academic affairs committee will meet at least once per semester. The subject teacher and class leader are responsible for ensuring that representatives are appointed and for arranging the first meeting. Minutes will be recorded at the meetings. These will be delivered to the study programme coordinator and the head of the department.

Participation in the class’s and campus’s democratic processes is both a student right as well as a responsibility.

Theory and Practical Training

The academic year does not include a practice period.

Assessment Methods

Continual informal supervision and evaluation is part of the learning process. It is a means for the student to gain greater insight into their own academic requirements for further studies and future professional careers. Students are responsible for keeping themselves informed about assignments, deadlines, study programme requirements, etc. Portfolios with course work will be submitted, assessed and allocated a grade in the individual courses. Lectures, seminars, introductions and reviews are considered within the rule of 80% compulsory attendance.

Examination

Each course is evaluated separately on the basis of the contents of the portfolio with exhibited products and a reflection paper.

Grades A to F will be awarded, where A is the highest and E is the lowest passing grade.

The grades for each of the four courses will be entered on the diploma.

For more information please refer to Telemark University College’s examination regulations.

Suitability

There are no requirements for suitability assessment in the study programme.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean